BART board to hold Walnut Creek workshop

The BART board will hold a rare two-day workshop in Walnut Creek on Friday and Saturday to discuss how to raise $3 billion to buy new train cars, and to develop a long-term policy for fare increases.

The public meetings start noon Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Club Sport Hotel's club room, 2805 Jones Road, Walnut Creek, across from the Pleasant Hill BART station.

New BART General Manager Grace Crunican requested the workshop to get board feedback on several long-term issues, including a possible 2012 parcel tax ballot measure to help pay for new rail cars, officials said.

The board also will discuss whether to extend or change a policy expiring next year that calls for automatic fare increases linked to inflation every other year, said Board President Bob Franklin,

The board rarely meets outside downtown Oakland, and it has been years since it held a retreat to discuss priorities.